First Team News

Fernandinho expecting entertaining Gunners clash

Fernandinho will come up against a side he admits he enjoys playing against when Arsenal visit the Etihad this Sunday.

It’s no surprise, either, as he is yet to lose against the Gunners in three meetings and he also bagged his first two City goals in the 6-3 home win last season.

And with two goals in his last three games for the Blues, he’s hoping to find the net again in what is a crucial clash for the champions.

While Ferna is not expecting quite the same scoreline this time around, he does believe it will be another entertaining spectacle that both sets of supporters and neutrals alike will enjoy watching.

“That was quite a game,” said Fernandinho in reference to last year’s goal-fest. “It was really attacking and both teams just went for it in attempt to out-score the other, play great football and it was a fantastic match to be part of.

“It was special for me to score my first goals for City in that game and I suppose I could have had a hat-trick when we were awarded a penalty right at the end, but I was never going to rush up and grab the ball.

“It was more important we scored the goal which we did and I was just as happy because not many sides put six past a team like Arsenal. I’ve played three games against them so far and I’m yet to lose so I hope this continues this weekend."

Though the Blues have come up against a number of parked buses in recent weeks at the Etihad, that’s one tactic the Brazil star is certain Arsene Wenger won’t employ.

“Both City and Arsenal are attack-minded sides and that is good for us because when we meet teams with a similar mentality to ourselves we know we will have space to create chances - but by the same token, they are capable of doing the same because they have some great players, too,” he said.

“It’s not in our make-up or in Arsenal’s to play defensively and I’m sure it will be an open game, but I obviously hope our strikers make the difference and score the goals we need to win the game.”

The meeting earlier this season proved neither side had adopted a negative mentality against the other in a thrilling 2-2 draw that ultimately could have swung City’s way in the closing minutes.

Fernandinho recalls: “They started really well against us, pressing us high up the pitch and they created several chances and a number of problems for us before we caught them on the counter-attack and took the lead.

“In the second-half they came back strongly and went 2-1 ahead. We weren’t finished, of course, and we equalised from a header and had two or three really good opportunities to win the game in stoppage time.

“We know what to expect. Arsenal are a very good, technical side and if we allow them to play with the players they have, they have the ability to hurt us so we know we will need to give a top performance if we are to take three points.”